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2 Welcome To ETABS
2 Welcome To ETABS
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Welcome to ETABS
1 Introduction
History and Advantages of ETABS 1-1
2 Getting Started
Installing ETABS 2-1
i
Welcome to ETABS
Towers 3-4
Units 3-4
Coordinate Systems and Grids 3-5
Groups 3-7
Properties 3-7
P-Delta 3-12
Detailing 3-17
ii
Contents
Post-Tensioning 4-7
Cladding 4-9
Modifiers 4-9
Construction Sequence Loading 4-10
iii
Welcome to ETABS
iv
Chapter 1
Introduction
ETABS is a sophisticated, yet easy to use, special purpose analysis and
design program developed specifically for building systems. ETABS fea-
tures an intuitive and powerful graphical interface coupled with un-
matched modeling, analytical, and design procedures, all integrated using
a common database. Although quick and easy for simple structures,
ETABS can also handle the largest and most complex building models,
including a wide range of nonlinear behaviors necessary for perfor-
mance-based design (PBD), making it the tool of choice for structural
engineers in the building industry.
tool that offered significant savings in time and increased accuracy over
general purpose programs.
▪ Multiple linear and nonlinear time history load cases in any di-
rection
▪ Foundation/support settlement
An Integrated Approach
ETABS is a completely integrated system. Embedded beneath the sim-
ple, intuitive user interface are very powerful numerical methods, design
procedures and international design codes, all working from a single
comprehensive database. This integration means that you create only one
model of the floor systems and the vertical and lateral framing systems to
analyze and design the entire building.
Everything you need is integrated into one versatile analysis and design
package with one Windows-based graphical user interface. No external
modules are required. The effects on one part of the structure from
changes in another part are instantaneous and automatic. The integrated
components include:
ETABS is available in three different levels that all share the same
graphical user interface:
Modeling Features
The ETABS building is idealized as an assemblage of shell, frame, link,
tendon, and joint objects. Those objects are used to represent wall, floor,
column, beam, brace, tendon, and link/spring physical members. The
basic frame geometry is defined with reference to a simple three-
dimensional grid system. With relatively simple modeling techniques,
very complex framing situations may be considered.
The column, beam and brace elements may be non-prismatic, and they
may have partial fixity at their end connections. They also may have uni-
form, partial uniform and trapezoidal load patterns, and they may have
temperature loads. The effects of the finite dimensions of the beams and
columns on the stiffness of a frame system are included using end offsets
that can be automatically calculated.
The floors and walls can be modeled as membrane elements with in-
plane stiffness only, or full shell-type elements, which combine both in-
plane and out-of-plane stiffness. Floor and wall members may have uni-
form and non-uniform load patterns in-plane or out-of-plane, and they
may have temperature loads. The column, beam, brace, floor and wall
members are all compatible with one another.
Analysis Features
Static analyses for user specified vertical and lateral floor or story loads
are possible. If floors with out-of-plane bending capability are modeled,
vertical loads on the floor are transferred to the beams and columns
through bending of the floor elements. Otherwise, vertical loads on the
floor are automatically converted to span loads on adjoining beams, or
point loads on adjacent columns, thereby automating the tedious task of
transferring floor tributary loads to the floor beams without the need to
explicitly model the secondary framing.
The program can automatically generate lateral wind and seismic load
patterns to meet the requirements of various building codes. Three-
dimensional mode shapes and frequencies, modal participation factors,
direction factors, and participating mass percentages are evaluated using
eigenvector or ritz-vector analysis. P-Delta effects may be included with
static or dynamic analysis.
Results from the various static load cases may be combined with each
other or with the results from the dynamic response spectrum or time his-
tory analyses.
Design Features
Design of steel frames, concrete frames, concrete slabs, concrete shear
walls, composite beams, composite columns, and steel joists can be per-
formed based on a variety of US and International design codes. Flexur-
al, shear and deflection checks may all be performed depending upon the
material and member type. Steel and concrete frame members may be
optimized from autoselect lists, and concrete sections are designed using
reinforcing bar sizes chosen from US or International standards. Con-
crete slab design may be done using either design strips, or be based on
the finite element method, and may include the effects of post-
tensioning.
Detailing Features
When used in conjunction with CSiDetail or CSiXCAD, schematic con-
struction drawings showing floor framing, column schedules, beam ele-
vations and sections, and concrete shear wall reinforcing may be pro-
duced. Concrete reinforcement of beams, columns, and walls may be se-
lected based on user-defined rules. Any number of drawings may be cre-
ated, containing plan views, sections, elevations, tables, and schedules.
Getting Started
ETABS is an easy to use, yet extremely powerful, special purpose pro-
gram developed expressly for building systems. This chapter will help
you get started using the program.
Installing ETABS
Please follow the installation instructions provided in the separate instal-
lation document included in your ETABS Package or ask your system
administrator to install the program and give you access to it.
The content of the User’s Guide provides an introduction to the steps and
menu items used to create, analyze, and design a model.
It is strongly recommended that you read these manuals and work the tu-
torial before attempting a project using ETABS.
Technical Support
If you have questions regarding use of the software, please:
• Call CSI or your local CSI Partner. Contact details are available
at https://www.csiamerica.com/contact.
braces, floors, walls, ramps and springs. You also make assign-
ments to those same objects to define loads.
▪ Draw a series of joint, frame, tendon, link, and shell objects that
represent your building using the various drawing tools available
within the graphical interface. Design strips may also be drawn
to aid in designing slabs or to add tendons to the building model.
▪ Verify meshing parameters for floor (if they are not membrane
slab/deck/plank sections) and wall shell objects. Maximum mesh
size may be set independently for floors and walls.
When the model is complete, the analysis may be run. At that time, the
program automatically converts the object-based model into an element-
based model–this is known as the analysis model–that is used for the
analysis. The analysis model consists of joints, frame elements, tendon
elements, link elements, and shell (membrane and plate) elements that
mathematically represent the structural members, i.e., columns, beams,
braces, walls, floors, etc. The conversion to the analysis model is internal
to the program and essentially transparent to the user.
the elements required for the mathematical or analysis model. For in-
stance, a single frame object can model a complete beam, regardless of
how many other members frame into it, and regardless of the loading.
With ETABS, model creation and the reporting of results are accom-
plished at the object level.
This differs from a traditional analysis program, where the user is re-
quired to define a sub-assemblage of finite elements that comprise the
larger physical members. In ETABS, the objects, or physical members
drawn by the user, are typically subdivided internally into the greater
number of finite elements needed for the analysis model without user in-
put. Because the user is working only with the physical member-based
objects, less time is needed to create the model and to interpret the re-
sults, with the added benefit that analysis results are generally more ap-
propriate for the design work that follows.
Story Definition
One of the most powerful features that ETABS offers is the recognition
of story levels, allowing for the input of building data in a logical and
convenient manner. Users may define their models on a floor-by-floor,
story-by-story basis, analogous to the way a designer works when laying
out building drawings. Story levels help identify, locate and display spe-
cific areas and objects of your model; column and beam objects are easi-
ly located using their plan location and story level labels.
Towers
ETABS allows multiple towers to be defined, each with their own grid
system and story data. This allows for the modeling of multiple buildings
on a common podium. Views may be set to display one tower, all towers,
or any combination thereof.
Units
ETABS works with four basic units: force, length, temperature, and time.
Any units may be used at any time while working on the model, e.g.,
inch units for beam sections and feet units for grid layout. Time is always
measured in seconds.
When you start a new model, you will be asked to initialize with either
"U.S." or "Metric" base units. This option sets the default units for the
model and controls which units are used internally to save the model -
input and output are always converted to and from the internal base units.
3-4 Towers
Chapter 3 - The ETABS System
Each object in the model has its own local coordinate system used to de-
fine properties, loads, and responses. The axes of each local coordinate
system are denoted 1 (red), 2 (green), and 3 (blue). Local coordinate sys-
tems do not have an associated grid.
Structural Objects
As stated previously, ETABS uses objects to represent physical structural
members. When creating a model, the user starts by drawing the geome-
try of the object, and then assigning properties and loads to completely
define the building structure.
▪ Shell objects are used to model walls, slabs, decks, planks, and
other thin-walled members. Shell objects will be meshed auto-
matically into the elements needed for analysis. Walls, when
meshed, use a rectangular mesh. Floors with both membrane and
plate behavior (e.g., cast-in-place solid, waffle, & ribbed slabs)
are meshed using a general mesh with a maximum size set by the
user. If horizontal objects with only membrane definition are in-
cluded in the model (e.g., decks and planks), the objects are
meshed in a manner such that the vertical loads will be properly
distributed to supporting members.
Groups
A group is a named collection of objects. It may contain any number of
objects of any number of types. Groups have many uses, including:
▪ Selective output.
Properties
Properties are “assigned” to each object to define the structural behavior
of that object in the model. Some properties, such as materials and sec-
tion properties, are named entities that must be specified before assigning
them to objects. For example, a model may have:
Groups 3-7
Welcome to ETABS
Nonlinear Hinges
Nonlinear hinges define the load-deformation (force-displacement, mo-
ment-rotation) behavior of objects post-yield. Hinges may be assigned to
both frame objects and vertical wall objects. Built-in default or user-
defined hinge properties may be specified at any number of locations
along frame objects, and at the mid-height of wall objects. Nonlinear
hinges are processed in the analysis model in one of two ways: 1) the
hinge is integral (internal) within the object - these hinges can be used in
static and direct integration nonlinear analyses; or 2) the hinge is mod-
eled using an additional link element - these hinges may be used in all
nonlinear analyses, including the often faster and more stable Fast Non-
linear Analysis (FNA). There may be slight differences in results be-
tween these two options due to minor variations in flexibility and inertia.
The number of hinges affects not only computation time, but also the
ease in which model behavior and results may be interpreted. Therefore,
it is strongly recommended that hinges be assigned only at locations
where the occurrence of nonlinear behavior is highly probable.
Load Patterns
Loads represent actions upon the structure, such as force, pressure, sup-
port displacement, thermal effects, and others. A spatial distribution of
loads upon the structure is called a load pattern.
After defining a load pattern name, you must assign specific load values
to the objects as part of that load pattern, or define an automated lateral
load if the case is for seismic or wind. The load values you assign to an
object specify the type of load (e.g., force, displacement, temperature),
its magnitude, and direction (if applicable). Different loads can be as-
signed to different objects as part of a single load pattern, along with the
automated lateral load, if so desired. Each object can be subjected to
multiple load patterns.
Vertical Loads
Vertical loads may be applied to joint, frame and shell objects. Vertical
loads are typically input in the gravity, or -Z direction. Joint objects can
accept concentrated forces or moments. Frame objects may have any
number of point loads (forces or moments) or distributed loads (uniform
or trapezoidal) applied. Uniform and non-uniform loads can be applied to
Shell objects. Vertical load cases may also include element self-weight.
Some typical vertical load cases used for building structures might in-
clude:
▪ Dead load
▪ Live load
▪ Snow load
If the vertical loads applied are assigned to a reducible live load pattern,
ETABS provides you with an option to reduce the live loads used in the
design phase. Many different types of code-dependent load reduction
formulations are available.
Temperature Loads
Temperature loads on frame and shell objects can be generated in
ETABS by specifying temperature changes. Those temperature changes
may be specified directly as a uniform temperature change on the object,
or they may be based on previously specified point object temperature
changes, or on a combination of both.
If the point object temperature change option is selected, the program as-
sumes that the temperature change varies linearly over the object length
for frames, and linearly over the object surface for shells. Although you
can specify a temperature change for a joint object, temperature loads act
only on frame and shell objects.
When seismic has been selected as the load type, various auto lateral
load codes are available. Upon selection of a code, the Seismic Load Pat-
tern form is populated with default values and settings that may be re-
viewed and edited by the user. The program uses those values to generate
lateral loads in the specified direction based on the weight defined by the
masses assigned or calculated from the property definitions. After
3 - 10 Temperature Loads
Chapter 3 - The ETABS System
ETABS has calculated a story level force for an automatic seismic load,
that force is apportioned to each joint at the story level elevation in pro-
portion to its mass. Seismic auto lateral loads should not be used with
models that contain more than one tower as an incorrect distribution of
lateral loads may occur.
If wind has been selected as the load type, various auto lateral load codes
are available. Upon selection of a code, the Wind Load Pattern form is
populated with default values and settings, which may be reviewed and
edited by the user. In ETABS, automatically calculated wind loads may
be applied to diaphragms (rigid or semi-rigid), or to walls and frames, in-
cluding non-structural walls such as cladding that are created using shell
objects, and to frames in open structures. If the rigid diaphragm option is
selected, a separate load is calculated for each rigid diaphragm present at
a story level. The wind loads calculated at any story level are based on
the story level elevation, the story height above and below the level, the
assumed exposure width for the rigid diaphragm(s) at that level and the
various code-dependent wind coefficients. The load is applied to a rigid
diaphragm at what ETABS calculates to be the geometric center.
If the option has been selected whereby wind loads are calculated and
applied via shell objects defining walls, a wind pressure coefficient must
be assigned to each shell object that has exposure, and it must be speci-
fied as windward or leeward. On the basis of the various code factors and
user defined coefficients and exposures, ETABS calculates the wind
loads for each shell (wall) object and applies the loads as point forces at
the corners of the object. In addition, some codes allow wind loads to be
generated for exposed frame members (i.e., lattice or open structures), in
which case the program calculates joint forces based on the code selected
and the solid to gross area ratio specified. Wind auto lateral loads should
not be used with models that contain more than one tower as an incorrect
distribution of lateral loads may occur.
Functions
Functions are defined to describe how a load varies as a function of peri-
od, time or frequency. Functions are only needed for certain types of
analysis; they are not used for static analysis. A function is a series of
digitized abscissa-ordinate data pairs.
P-Delta
P-Delta options are set to determine the type of P-Delta to use. P-Delta
refers to the nonlinear geometric effect that gravity loads have upon the
lateral stiffness of buildings. There are three options:
3 - 12 Functions
Chapter 3 - The ETABS System
Modal Cases
Although defined under load cases, a modal case by itself does not apply
any load. Rather, a modal case defines the type and number of modes to
be extracted from the model. An unlimited number of modal cases may
be defined, although for most purposes a single case is enough. Each
modal case results in a set of modes, and each mode consists of a mode
shape (normalized deflected shape) and a set of modal properties, such as
period and cyclic frequency. The dynamic modes of the structure are cal-
culated using either eigenvector or Ritz-vector methods:
Load Cases
A load case (with the exception of modal cases, as explained above) de-
fines how loads are to be applied to the structure, and how the structural
response is to be calculated. Many types of load cases are available. Most
broadly, load cases are classified as linear or nonlinear, depending on
how the structure responds to the loading.
Modal Cases 3 - 13
Welcome to ETABS
The results of linear analyses may be superposed, i.e., added together, af-
ter analysis. The following types of load cases are available:
3 - 14 Load Cases
Chapter 3 - The ETABS System
Any number of named load cases of any type may be defined. When the
model is analyzed, the load cases to be run must be selected. Results for
any load case may be selectively deleted.
Load Combinations
ETABS allows for the named combination of the results from one or
more load cases and/or other combinations. When a combination is de-
fined, it applies to the results for every object in the model.
▪ Linear Add: Results from the included load cases and combina-
tions are added.
▪ Absolute Add: The absolute values of the results from the in-
cluded load cases and combinations are added.
▪ SRSS: The square root of the sum of the squares of the results
from the included load cases and combinations is computed.
▪ Range Add: Positive values are added to the maximum and neg-
ative values are added to the minimum for the included load cas-
es and combos.
Load Combinations 3 - 15
Welcome to ETABS
Design Settings
ETABS offers the following integrated design postprocessors:
The first five design procedures are applicable to frame objects, and the
program determines the appropriate design procedure for a frame object
when the analysis is run. The design procedure selected is based on the
line object’s orientation, section property, material type and connectivity.
Shear wall design is available for objects that have previously been iden-
tified as piers or spandrels, and both piers and spandrels may consist of
both shell and frame objects.
Concrete slab design is applicable to slab objects and will include the ef-
fects of post-tensioning if present in the model. Punching shear checks
are also carried out at column object locations, vertical point loads, and
supports.
▪ The specific design code to be used for each type of object, e.g.,
AISC 360-16 for steel frames, EUROCODE 2-2004 for concrete
frames, and BS8110 97 for shear walls.
3 - 16 Design Settings
Chapter 3 - The ETABS System
For steel and concrete frames, composite beam, composite column, steel
joist, and concrete shear wall design, ETABS can automatically select an
optimum section from a list you define. The section also can be changed
manually during the design process. As a result, each object can have
two different section properties associated with it:
The design section becomes the analysis section for the next analysis,
and the iterative analysis and design cycle should be continued until the
two sections become the same.
Design results for the design section, when available, as well as all of the
settings described herein, can be considered to be part of the model.
Detailing
The designs generated by ETABS can be used by other CSI software
such as CSiDetail and CSiXCAD to produce schematic construction
documents for buildings. Preferences may be set for the size and spacing
of reinforcing bars for slabs, beams, columns, and shear walls.
Detailing 3 - 17
Welcome to ETABS
▪ Design details
More Information
This chapter presents just a brief overview of some of the basic compo-
nents of the ETABS model. Additional information can be found in the
online Help facility available within the ETABS graphical user interface,
including manuals in Adobe Acrobat PDF format that describe code-
specific design algorithms.
3 - 18 More Information
Chapter 4
Auto-Select Properties
When creating an ETABS model containing steel or concrete frame ob-
jects (frames, composite beams, composite columns, and joists) or con-
crete walls, determining explicit preliminary member sizes for analysis is
not necessary. Instead, apply an auto-select section property to any or all
of the frame or wall objects. An auto-select property is a list of section
sizes rather than a single size. The list contains all of the section sizes to
be considered as possible candidates for the physical member, and multi-
ple lists can be defined. For example, one auto-select list may be for steel
columns, another list may be used for floor joists, and a third list may be
used for steel beams and girders.
For the initial analysis, the program will select the median section in the
auto-select list. After the analysis has been completed, run the design op-
timization process for a particular object where only the section sizes
available in the auto-select section list will be considered, and the pro-
gram will automatically select the most economical, adequate section
from this list. After the design optimization phase has selected a section,
the analysis model should be re-run if the design section differs from the
previous analysis section. This cycle should be repeated until the analysis
and design sections are identical.
Effective use of auto-select section properties can save many hours asso-
ciated with establishing preliminary member sizes.
The main issue for vertical load transfer is the distribution of surface
loads that lie on the shell object representing the floor plate in the analy-
sis model. ETABS analysis for vertical load transfer differs depending
upon whether the floor-type object has membrane only behavior or plate
bending behavior. The following bullets describe load transfer for floor-
type objects:
The internal meshing for both membrane only and plate bending shell
sections does not alter the number or size of the objects, which allows for
simple revisions and modifications to be executed at the object level.
For the load transfers described herein, the program will automatically
calculate the tributary area being carried by each member so that live
load reduction factors may be applied. Various code-dependent formula-
tions are available for those calculations; however, the values can always
be overwritten with user specified values.
For rigid diaphragm systems, the wind loads are applied at the geometric
centers of each rigid floor diaphragm. For semi-rigid diaphragms, wind
loads are applied to every joint in the diaphragm. For modeling multi-
tower systems subjected to wind, more than one rigid or semi-rigid floor
diaphragm may be applied at any one story.
The seismic loads are calculated from the story mass distribution over
the structure using code-dependent coefficients and fundamental periods
of vibration. For semi-rigid floor systems where there are numerous mass
points, ETABS has a special load dependent Ritz-vector algorithm for
fast automatic calculation of the predominant time periods. The seismic
loads are applied at the locations where the inertia forces are generated
and do not have to be at story levels only. Additionally, for semi-rigid
floor systems, the inertia loads are spatially distributed across the hori-
zontal extent of the floor in proportion to the mass distribution, thereby
accurately capturing the shear forces generated across the floor dia-
phragms.
ETABS also has a very wide variety of Dynamic Analysis options, vary-
ing from basic response spectrum analysis to nonlinear time history anal-
ysis. Code-dependent response spectrum curves are built into the system
and transitioning to a dynamic analysis is usually trivial after the basic
model has been created.
can perform nonlinear time history analyses using either Fast Nonlinear
Analysis (FNA) or direct integration.
Wall Stacks
ETABS offers a drawing option that allows for the quick placement of
predefined wall stacks. Wall stacks are assemblages of shell objects that
in plan can resemble the letters C, L, I, E, or F; single- or multi-cell box-
es; or user-defined general shapes. These assemblages may include open-
ings for doors. The thickness and length of each wall section may be set
ETABS offers a number of options for live load reductions, and some of
the methods can have their reduced live load factors (RLLF) subject to
two minimums. One minimum applies to members receiving load from
one story level only, while the other applies to members receiving load
from multiple levels. The program provides default values for those min-
imums, but the user can overwrite them. It is important to note that the
live loads are reduced only in the design postprocessors; live loads are
never reduced in the basic analysis output.
These limitations can have a significant effect on the results reported for
braced frame structures and buildings with diaphragm flexibility issues,
among others. Under the influence of lateral loads, significant shear
stresses can be generated in the floor systems, and thus for some build-
ings it is important that the floor plates be modeled as semi-rigid dia-
phragms so that the diaphragm deformations are included in the analysis,
and axial forces are recovered in the beams/struts supporting the floors.
Post-Tensioning
Post-tensioning places concrete in compression to reduce the tensile
stresses due to flexure. Post-tensioning typically reduces deflections and
the amount of standard reinforcement required in slabs.
Post-Tensioning 4-7
Welcome to ETABS
ETABS using design strips. The tendon distribution in design strips can
be specified as banded or distributed, and acceptable ranges for both the
concrete precompression level and percentage of self-weight to be bal-
anced may be input. ETABS then iterates to determine the profile of the
tendons that best satisfies the stress and balancing requirements.
Edge Constraints
Part of what makes traditional finite element modeling so time consum-
ing is creating an appropriate mesh in the transition zones of adjacent ob-
jects whose meshes do not match. This is a very common occurrence,
and almost always happens at the interface between walls and floors.
General purpose programs historically have had difficulties with the
meshing transitions between curved walls and floors, and between walls
and sloping ramps.
Cladding
It is often necessary to apply wind loading to the exterior surface of a
building. ETABS offers a drawing option that allows for the automated
creation of exterior non-structural cladding to which wind loads may be
applied. The layout of the cladding may be defined using floor outlines,
perimeter beams, or perimeter columns. This cladding adds neither mass,
weight, nor stiffness to the building.
Soil-Foundation Interaction
The effects of soil-foundation interaction, e.g., differential settlement,
may have a significant impact on building response. ETABS offers a
modeling option to automatically generate foundation springs and dash-
pots for isolated column footings (i.e., shallow foundations) based on
footing geometry and soil profile definitions. Soil profiles may consist of
any number of layers and associated properties, and there is no limit to
the number of footing and soil profile combinations that may be defined.
Modifiers
ETABS allows for modification factors to be assigned to both frame and
shell objects. For frame objects, frame property modifiers are multiplied
times the specified section properties to obtain the final analysis section
properties used for the frame elements. For shell objects, shell stiffness
modifiers are multiplied times the shell element analysis stiffnesses cal-
culated from the specified section property. Both of those modifiers af-
fect only the analysis properties. They do not affect any design proper-
ties.
The modifiers can be used to limit the way in which the analysis ele-
ments behave. For instance, assume that you have a concrete slab sup-
ported by a steel truss, but do not want the slab to act as a flange for the
truss; all flange forces should be carried by the top chord of the truss.
Using a shell object modifier, you can force the concrete slab to act only
in shear, thereby removing the in-plane “axial” behavior of the concrete
so that it does not contribute any strength or stiffness in the vertical di-
rection of the truss. Other examples when the use of modifiers is benefi-
Cladding 4-9
Welcome to ETABS
In many cases, especially for taller buildings because the effect is cumu-
lative, the analytical results of the final structure can be significantly al-
tered by the construction sequence of the building. Situations that are
sensitive to the effects of the construction sequence include, among oth-
ers, buildings with differential axial deformations, transfer girders in-
volving temporary shoring, and trussed structures where segments of the
truss are built and loaded while other segments are still being installed.
ETABS has an option whereby the user can activate an automated se-
quential construction load case. This procedure allows the structure to be
loaded as it is built, story by story. Typically, you would do this for the
dead load pattern and use the analytical results from the sequential con-
struction load case in combination with the other load cases for the de-
sign phase.
Walking Vibrations
ETABS allows for the automated application of vertical pulse loadings in
a path across a floor to dynamically simulate the footfall of a person
Energy diagrams that demonstrate the distribution of energy per unit vol-
ume for the members throughout the structure can be generated and dis-
played. Those displays help in identifying the members that contribute
the largest to drift resistance under the influence of lateral loads. For drift
control, increasing the sizes of those members will produce the most ef-
ficient use of added material.
Along the same lines, ETABS offers an automatic member size optimi-
zation process for lateral drift control based on lateral drift targets that
the user specifies for any series of points at various floors. The drift op-
timization is based on the energy method described herein, whereby the
program increases the size of the members proportionately to the amount
of energy per unit volume calculated for a particular load case.
Section Designer
Section Designer is a built-in utility for defining frame and wall sections
graphically. Section Designer allows sections to be built of arbitrary ge-
ometry using a combination of steel and concrete materials. Section De-
signer then calculates the section properties (e.g., areas, moments of iner-
tia, torsional constant, section moduli) for use in analysis and design. In-
teraction surface and moment curvature diagrams for concrete sections
may be displayed from within Section Designer.
More Information
This chapter was intended to illustrate some of the many techniques
ETABS provides for the efficient modeling of systems and behaviors
typically associated with building structures. Additional information can
be found in the online Help facility available within the ETABS graph-
ical user interface, including manuals in Adobe Acrobat PDF format that
describe code-specific design algorithms. In addition, the “Watch &
Learn” movie series is available from CSI’s web site at
www.csiamerica.com.
4 - 12 More Information
Chapter 5
In a given analysis run, you may request a P-Delta analysis, and multiple
cases of linear static, modal, response spectrum, time history, and buck-
ling analyses. Multiple nonlinear static and time history analysis cases
may also be defined.
Geometric and material nonlinearity, except for the P-Delta effect, are
not considered in a linear static analysis.
P-Delta Analysis
The P-Delta option accounts for the effect of a large compressive or ten-
sile load upon the transverse stiffness of members in the structure. Com-
pression reduces lateral stiffness, and tension increases it. This type of
geometric nonlinearity is known as the P-Delta effect. This option is par-
ticularly useful for considering the effect of gravity loads upon the lateral
stiffness of building structures.
When you select a P-Delta option, it is performed before all linear anal-
yses in the same analysis run. The P-Delta analysis essentially modifies
the characteristics of the structure, affecting the results of all subsequent
analyses performed. Because the load causing the P-Delta effect is the
same for all linear analysis cases, their results may be superposed in load
combinations.
Modal Analysis
Modal analysis calculates vibration modes for the structure based on the
stiffnesses of the elements and the masses present. Those modes can be
used to investigate the behavior of a structure, and are required as a basis
for subsequent response spectrum and time history analyses.
Two types of modal analysis are available: eigenvector analysis and Ritz-
vector analysis. Only one type can be used in a single load case. Modal
analysis is always linear. A modal load case may be based on the stiff-
ness of the full unstressed structure, or upon the stiffness at the end of a
nonlinear load case. By using the stiffness at the end of a nonlinear case,
you can evaluate the modes under P-delta conditions.
Mass Source
To calculate modes of vibration, a model must contain mass. Mass may
be determined and assigned in ETABS using any of the following ap-
proaches:
▪ ETABS determines the mass from a load pattern that the user
specifies.
▪ ETABS determines the mass on the basis of self masses, any ad-
ditional masses the user assigns, and any load pattern that the us-
er specifies. This is a combination of the first two approaches.
Eigenvector Analysis
Eigenvector/eigenvalue analysis determines the undamped free-vibration
mode shapes and frequencies of the system. Those natural modes provide
an excellent insight into the behavior of the structure. They can also be
used as the basis for response spectrum or time history analyses, alt-
hough Ritz vectors are strongly recommended for those purposes.
The eigenvalue is the square of the circular frequency. The user specifies
a cyclic frequency (circular frequency/(2)) range in which to seek the
modes. Modes are found in order of increasing frequency, and although
starting from the default value of zero is appropriate for most dynamic
analyses, ETABS does allow the user to specify a starting “shift frequen-
cy”; this can be helpful when your building is subjected to higher fre-
quency input, such as vibrating machinery.
Ritz-Vector Analysis
ETABS offers the ability to use the sophisticated Ritz-vector technique
for modal analysis. Research has indicated that the natural free-vibration
mode shapes are not the best basis for a mode-superposition analysis of
structures subjected to dynamic loads. It has been demonstrated that dy-
namic analyses based on load-dependent Ritz vectors yield more accu-
rate results than the use of the same number of eigenvalue/eigenvector
mode shapes.
Ritz vectors yield excellent results because they are generated consider-
ing the spatial distribution of the dynamic loading. The direct use of the
natural mode shapes neglects this important information.
The FNA method is highly accurate when used with appropriate Ritz
vector modes, and has advantages over traditional time-stepping methods
in terms of speed, and control over damping and higher mode effects.
Buckling Analysis
Linear buckling analysis seeks the instability modes of a structure due to
the P-delta effect under a specified set of loads. Each eigenvalue-
eigenvector pair is called a buckling mode of the structure. The eigenval-
ue is called the buckling factor. It is the scale factor that loads must be
multiplied by to cause buckling in the given mode.
Hyperstatic Analysis
A hyperstatic analysis may be required when doing concrete slab design
utilizing post-tensioning. This type of analysis is based on a previously
defined linear static load case (i.e., post-tensioning), in which the reac-
tions from this static load case are applied as loads to an unsupported
structure.
More Information
This chapter provides a general introduction to the primary analytical
techniques ETABS offers for linear and nonlinear analysis of buildings.
Additional information can be found in the on-line Help facility available
within the ETABS graphical user interface, including manuals in Adobe
Acrobat PDF format that describe code-specific design algorithms. In
addition, the “Watch & Learn” movie series is available from CSI’s web
site at www.csiamerica.com.